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If I remember correctly, this Beatles genre did the Idols good a couple years ago, so I’m hoping it’ll be more of the same tonight. It’s almost a shame that Didi Benami went home, as I can see where she would have done well with this music. Ryan mentions this is the top 9 of season 9. Is this like the equivalent of their golden birthday? And look, there’s Lacey Brown in the audience, sitting next to the stars of Bones.

With the theme tonight, Casey James explains John Lennon and Paul McCartney were the best songwriting duo ever. Big Mike calls them music geniuses, and Crystal Bowersox considers it a privilege to sing their songs. Sir Paul McCartney sent them a video message wishing them luck, and says he’s pleased the Idols are singing their songs. He wants them to go for it and enjoy themselves.

Randy thinks it could be big highs and big lows, as these are some of the best songs written. He wants them to bring it on. Does he ever say anything prolific at this point, or can most of what he says be followed by “Duh.” Ellen DeGeneres’ favorite Lennon/McCartney songs are Blackbird, Michelle, Come Together, Daytripper, Across the Universe … She wonders if they wrote Party In the USA. Kara DioGuardi thinks these songs are timeless because they’re as meaningful and relevant as when they came out. They’re some of the best melodies ever created and get embedded into your soul. Simon Cowell agrees and believes some of the Idols will benefit from reworking the songs, and others should leave the songs alone. For once he joins Randy in the “Duh” department.

The Idols were all asked to describe each other for tonight’s show, and first up is Aaron Kelly Big Mike says Aaron may be small, but those Jedi mind tricks are nothing to mess with. His nickname is Yoda, and Lee Dewyze explains they make up things for him like, “Lunch you will get.” Crystal thinks he’s floating above somewhere with the force. Aaron isn’t sure whether it’s a compliment, or whether they just like to pick on him, but in truth they think of him as the little brother. Casey and Lee think he’s pretty mature for his age. He’s singing Long and Winding Road, the same song David Archuleta did, which is probably a mistake, as it just invites more of those comparisons. Aaron sounds good on it, and it is a good song choice, but I don’t know if he lent anything special to this version of it.

Randy tells Aaron the things he liked about it included that he still has a beautiful tone, but he didn’t like the arrangement of the song; it was kind of sleepy. Going back to what Simon said before, it was one that could have been changed up. He could have done like a Rascal Flatts thing with it. Ellen thinks Aaron is fantastic, but it’s a big one to take on, and it felt like a long and winding song to take on.

Kara tells Aaron when it comes together for him and he’s changing up the melodies, it works. He’s been delivering performances, and for what he’s trying to do, he needs to be great, and he hasn’t reached that level yet. Every week is feeling like the same thing. Kara wants some tempo next week, to see him move. He says if he’s back this week, he does have something planned, a page out of Crystal’s book.

Simon is curious to why Aaron picked that song, and he says the journey has been a long and winding road for him, and this just makes Simon roll his eyes. He didn’t want to change up such a great song. Simon explains for 17 years old it was very old-fashioned and boring, and he’s cut off by a chorus of boos. Aaron needs to become young and relevant, and he should have done a little more research on that song. Regardless, Aaron isn’t disappointed in himself.

Katie is wearing a cute, little pink dress, and tells Ryan about getting five offers for prom. She says if everyone sends them her phone bills, she’ll look to see who’s voting for her the most, and go to prom with them. Can you cheapen this any more? Yet, my son was ready to pick up the phone and vote for her (we’re watching delayed, meaning the voting has already started) before he even heard her sing a note.

The other Idols see Katie as awesome and fun, and as everyone’s little sister. Se’s full of energy all the time, and they’re never sure what she’s going to do. Andrew notes no one knows she does a single ladies dance, and Siobhan explains if she was that good at dancing, she’d do it all the time. Katie’s dad used to play Beatles all the time in the car, so she’s familiar with the music and will be doing Let It Be. She thinks it’s a good message. It could be a bad idea after Kris Allen did it so well at the beginning of the season. She does certain parts well, and certain others not. It just doesn’t have the emotional charge in it that it needs and pales next to Kris’ version.

Randy tells Katie it’s her best performance ever. It reaffirms for him and all of America that those were hot vocals and ridiculous. Ellen calls it a perfect example of changing it just enough to make it your own without disrespecting the song. She may have been in the bottom three last week, but she doesn’t think she will be this week. Kara tells her she was in the bottom three two weeks in a row, and doesn’t make excuses as she blossoms onstage. She’s confident tonight, which is pretty amazing considering the last two weeks. She never looked or sounded better.

Simon tells Katie the whole point is when you’re in the bottom three consistently, it tells you you’re doing something wrong. Tonight however, she got it right, and he thinks the reason, while he doesn’t want to take all the credit, is because she’s absolutely leaning in the direction he’s been telling her, country. But Kara and Randy disagree and think she was taking their advice. It sounded to Simon like she was singing about somebody, instead of being robotic. Katie says she wanted to make a point to show growth this week.